
Plug in hybrid cars have always interested me. They appear to be the best combination of electric and hybrid driving. That is why I saw the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid and I could not help trying. This automobile will be affordable to operate particularly in urban commuting. I took time to know everything about this vehicle. I desired to know whether it is that good of both worlds. Is it efficient? Is it practical for families? How does it actually drive? All my findings will be presented to you in this full Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid review. The car is unique since it belongs to the first model in the world to have three various electrified powertrains. The Ioniq is available as a hybrid car, a plug-in hybrid car, and a pure-electric car. The one that particularly attracted my attention is the Plug-in Hybrid. It has a good combination of covering electric range on most of the daily trips and petrol engine on the longer ones.
What Makes The Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid Special?
Futuristic And Efficient Exterior
The Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid does not resemble other cars. Its front end is rounded and it has a sloping roofline. This is what makes it look futuristic. The shape is not merely a decoration. It is made in such a manner as to slide through the air. The car has an outstanding drag coefficient of only 0.24. This implies that it is among the most aerodynamic cars that one can purchase in the present day. It also has operational air flaps in the front grille which make it slice into the wind. There are also bright blue trims on the bumpers that you will notice. These mini accents inform people that this is an environmentally friendly car. Its modern appearance is also contributed by its fan alloy wheels. All in all, the car has a sleek, wind-cheating shape that contributes to its consuming less energy consumption.
Well-Designed And High-Tech Interior
Enter inside and you will see some additional blue highlights. They are at the steering wheel and around start button and round the air vents. It imparts a differentiated and technological touch to the cabin. The materials are of high quality, and it has ample soft-touch surfaces. The driver is provided with a slick digital driver display as opposed to the traditional gauges. The dashboard has an 8-inch colour touchscreen that is located at the centre of the dashboard. It is your car control centre, music, maps and car settings. The system is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto thus making it simple to connect your smartphone. The buttons of the climate control below the screen are smooth and glossy. The only thing that I can really complain about is the parking brake that is controlled by your left foot.
Comparison of Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid Trims
Feature | Premium Trim | Premium SE Trim |
---|---|---|
Starting Price | 24,995 (after grant) | 26,795 (after grant) |
Alloy Wheels | 16-inch alloy wheels | 16-inch alloy wheels |
Infotainment | 8-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto | 8-inch touchscreen with sat-nav, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto |
Heated Seats | Yes | Yes |
Additional Features | Cruise control, heated steering wheel, LED lights, rear parking camera | Adds blind spot detection, front parking sensors, ventilated seats, memory driver's seat |
Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Performance And Driving Experience
Then, what exactly is happening with Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In performance? It has two power sources! The former is a 1.6-litre GDI petrol motor. A more powerful 44.5kW (59bhp) electric motor is the second one. Their combined output is of 141 horsepower. This is transmitted to the front wheels using a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) . This is a big deal. A CVT gearbox is used in many hybrids, and this may make the engine appear loud and revvy. The 6 speed DCT of the Ioniq is more of a regular car and offers the pleasantly sporty feeling during a drive. Even switching gears will be possible when you have paddles behind the steering wheel. A lithium-ion polymer battery of 8.9kWh powers the electric motor. This battery is larger compared to the one in the standard Ioniq Hybrid. It is what enables it to move long distance on electricity.
Real-World Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Mileage And Efficiency
This is the most significant part to a lot of buyers. Average Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In mileage: how good can it be? The body, governmental, test figure is an insane 256.8 mpg. This figure is pegged on a test that presupposes that you recharge the battery whenever you travel a short distance. You will not have this in the real world. Its official all-electric range is 39 miles. This is quite true in my case and in the opinions of other reviews. Most motorists achieve an average range of 30-37 miles of actual electric distance. This is wonderful and takes care of the majority of the commuting. The electric range is exhausted, and then the car functions as a standard hybrid. In this mode, your economy will be based on your driving. During a long-term test one driver had an average of 82.1 mpg by charging frequently. To achieve a minimum of 50 mpg even on long journeys where charging is not possible. A different test achieved 77.2 mpg in a motorway test.
Charging The Battery
It is easy to charge the Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid. When you plug it in a regular household outlet, it charges in an average of six hours. With a committed home wall charger (such as a 3.6kW Pod Point), then that time is reduced to just two to three hours. It also has an advanced ECO-DAS system in the car. It is an intelligent navigation system that analyses your route and your driving habits. It then optimizes the utilization of the energy used in the battery to achieve the most efficient energy utilization.
Also read :- The 2026 BMW iX: Your Next Electric SUV Adventure
Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid Features: Technology And Safety
Hyundai has filled the Ioniq Plug-in with the contemporary technology. The touchscreen, which is 8 inches in size, is your command center. It is touch sensitive and user friendly. I like the fact that the main functionality has physical buttons below the screen. This gives it a lot more safety and ease of use when driving as compared to a touch-only system. Satellite navigation built-in is also a part of the system which indicates you where you can charge or where you can fuel. It also includes a wireless smartphone charging pad, and therefore you do not have to work with cables.
Safety is a strong point. The vehicle would also have Hyundai SmartSense, which is a collection of safety features. This includes:
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB): It is able to brake in case it thinks there is a collision at hand.
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA): This will prevent on the event of unintentionally being out of your lane.
- Driver Attention Warning (DAW): It speaks to you when it feels tat you are feeling sleepy.
- Blind-Spot Detection: On Premium SE models, it alerts you that there is a car in your blind spot.
Understanding The Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Price And Value
The Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In is highly competitive in terms of its price. In UK, the car was priced at approximately 28, 505-32,910 when new. The price began at 24,995 with the Premium trim once the Plug-in Car Grant of the government has been used. The Premium SE, top of the range, model began at 26,795.
One way to enter one of these cars nowadays is to purchase used. Elsewhere, such as Carwow, you will be able to locate used Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in vehicles as low as about 11,070. This renders it to be a cheaper alternative.
Taxes And Warranty
The low cost of running this car is one of the biggest benefits of this car particularly among business people.
- Road Tax (VED): The Ioniq Plug-in is not subject to VED during the first year because of its low CO2 emissions of 26g/km. After that, it costs £130 per year .
- Company Car Tax (BiK): It is in the lowest Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax bracket of the Business users, due to its low CO2 emissions. It implies that you spend a lot less tax annually than with a petrol or diesel car.
- Warranty: Hyundai offers a tremendous five years unlimited mile warranty. The high-voltage battery is even more covered: eight years or 125,000 miles. This makes you very peace of mind.
The Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid: Is It Good as a Family Car?
Space And Comfort
The Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid is a small family vehicle. But how about families?
- Front Seats: Front seats are very roomy and the height of the seats are adjustable to the person. Even when traveling long distances, the seats are comfortable.
- Rear Seats: The rear space is very spacious. The rear will easily accommodate three children. The doors are very wide and therefore installing a child seat is much easier.
- Boot Space: This is the primary tradeoff. The boot capacity is 341 litres . This does not have as much as a Volkswagen Golf that has approximately 40 litres extra. The shoe is very long though shallow since the battery is situated beneath the floor. It suffices even with a bicycle in terms of a weekly shopping trip within the family or even a school run.
Conclusion: My Final Verdict On The Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid
After all my research, I believe the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid is a smart and sensible choice for the right person. It is not a car for everyone, but it is perfect for many. For me, the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid is a winner. It offers a genuinely useful electric range for daily life and the safety of a petrol engine for longer trips. It is cheap to tax, packed with tech, and feels like a high-quality product. It is one of the most well-rounded and intelligent cars in its class.